Department of State DRL Grant: Advancing Democracy, Human Rights, and Freedom of Expression in Europe/Eurasia

* Be a U.S. non-profit organization meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c) (3) or a comparable organization headquartered internationally, or an international organization.

* Have demonstrated experience administering successful and preferably similar projects. DRL reserves the right to request additional background information on organizations that do not have previous experience administering federal grant awards. These applicants may be subject to limited funding on a pilot basis.

*Be a registered user of www.grants.gov and/or www.grantsolutions.gov .

* Have existing, or the capacity to develop, active partnerships with in-country entities and relevant stakeholders including industry and non-governmental organizations.

* Organizations may form consortia and submit a combined proposal. However, one organization should be designated as the lead applicant.

* An OMB policy directive published in the Federal Register on Friday, June 27, 2003, requires that all organizations applying for Federal grants or cooperative agreements must provide a Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number when applying for all Federal grants or cooperative agreements in or after October 1, 2003. Please reference: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/fedreg/062703_grant_identifier.pdf for the complete OMB policy directive.

Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Request for Proposals: Democracy, Human Rights, Rule of Law, and Freedom of Expression/Press for the Europe/Eurasia region.

SUMMARY
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces a Request for Proposals from organizations interested in submitting proposals for projects that promote democracy, human rights, rule of law, and freedom of expression/press in Europe and Eurasia.

PLEASE NOTE: DRL strongly urges applicants to access immediately www.grants.gov or www.grantsolutions.gov in order to obtain a username and password. It may take two full weeks to register with www.grants.gov. Please see the section entitled, ?DEADLINE AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS? below for specific instructions.

REQUESTED PROPOSAL PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
DRL invites organizations to submit proposals outlining program concepts and capacity to manage projects targeting the following issues:

Russia:

Building the Capacity of Media to Increase Transparency and Counter Corruption (approximately $770,000 available): DRL?s objective is to strengthen the capacity of civil society and media to advocate against corruption in the context of the Russian government?s anti-corruption and transparency initiatives. DRL seeks proposals that build bridges between the worlds of journalism and anti-corruption advocacy in Russia. Proposals should expand the capacity of journalists, bloggers, and/or civil society to uncover and effectively publicize reports of corruption on the local, regional, or national levels using new and traditional media. Proposals may focus on countering specific types of corruption or corruption in particular social spheres, such as politics, religion, education, health care, and law enforcement. Proposals should include a component focusing on upcoming elections in March 2012 and building upon lessons learned during the December 2011 elections. In addition, proposals should include a financial sustainability component to assist participating media outlets, bloggers, etc., to improve their long-term viability. Proposals should address potential interference/obstacles in regards to program implementation and offer contingency planning to ensure the safety of participants.

Proposals that include some of the following will be viewed favorably: conduct activities in the regions outside of Russia’s major cities and/or take a broad geographic approach; emphasize fact-checking skills; promote “spillover” into traditional media and social media; include ways to utilize new Freedom of Information legislation; highlight the experiences of existing associations and civil society groups, including religious groups, labor unions, and persons with disabilities; tap into networks of experienced pools of trainers such as journalist associations or regional networks; improve access to anti-corruption information for people with disabilities; or document/package/distribute effective anti-corruption stories and strategies in an innovative way that appeals to mass audiences. Other creative approaches are also welcome. Preference will be given to proposals with a large proportion of funding to be provided directly to Russian sub-recipients to carry out initiatives.

Improving Access to Justice in the North Caucasus (approximately $550,000 available): DRL?s objective is to impede the cycle of human rights abuses, violent extremism, and authoritarian responses in the North Caucasus through support of access to justice. Proposals should be mindful of how the cycle of repression and violence in the North Caucausus impacts the rights of vulnerable or marginalized groups, especially women, but also journalists, independent activists, ethnic and religious minorities, LGBT individuals, and those with disabilities. Proposals should address one or more of the following themes:

– Expanding civil society’s capacity to facilitate access to justice for citizens;
– Raising citizens’ ability to access legal services;
– Increasing citizens’ knowledge of protections provided by Russian and international law in regards to human rights;
– Developing citizens’ understanding of the role of universal human rights in an Islamic context.

Proposals must provide a plan that addresses the security needs of the project. Proposals from implementers with relevant experience working in the North Caucasus are preferred, but others will be considered. Proposals that include creative approaches are encouraged, as are proposals that include activities that take place in more than one republic.

Balkans:

Balkans Regional (approximately $500,000 available): DRL?s objective is to decrease intolerance/discrimination based on identity (e.g. ethnicity, language, religion, disabilities) among young people in the Balkans, and to promote cross-border, interethnic understanding and dialogue among youth in the region and within national boundaries. DRL seeks proposals that enhance reconciliation and inclusion efforts among various majority and minority communities affected by recent conflict; and impart the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for effective and responsible participation in democratic societies. Activities should promote constructive and inclusive relations among members of ethnic, religious, linguistic and other marginalized groups. Proposals must include participants from three or more Balkan countries (specifically including Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo) and include youths from a range of ethnic, religious, cultural or other marginalized communities.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
Proposals should conform to DRL?s posted Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI), available at http://www.state.gov/g/drl/p/october_2010/index.htm#. (For this solicitation, applicants must use the Revised PSI dated October 2010.)

An organization may submit no more than three (3) proposals (one proposal per theme). Proposals that do not meet the requirements of the announcement and PSI may not be considered. Proposals that combine target countries and/or themes may be deemed technically ineligible. Proposals that request less than the award floor ($300,000) or more than the award ceiling ($770,000) will be deemed technically ineligible.

For all application documents, please ensure:
1) All pages are numbered, including budgets and attachments,
2) All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper, and
3) All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins.

Complete applications should include the following for proposal submission:
1) Completed and signed SF-424, SF-424a (Budget Summary) and SF424b (Assurances), most recent A-133 Audit, and Certifications Regarding Lobbying forms as directed on www.grants.gov and www.grantsolutions.gov.

2) Table of Contents (not to exceed one [1] page in Microsoft Word) that includes a page-numbered contents page, including any attachments.

3) Executive Summary (not to exceed one [1] page in Microsoft Word) that includes:
a) Name and contact information for the project?s main point of contact,
b) A one-paragraph ?statement of work? or synopsis of the program and its expected results,
c) A concise breakdown of the project?s objectives and activities,
d) The total amount of funding requested and program length, and
e) A brief statement on how the project is innovative, sustainable, and will have a demonstrated impact.

4) Proposal Narrative (not to exceed ten [10] pages in Microsoft Word). Please note the ten page limit does not include the Table of Contents, Executive Summary, Attachments, Detailed Budget, Budget Narrative or NICRA. Applicants may submit multiple documents in one Microsoft Word file, i.e., Table of Contents, Executive Summary, Proposal Narrative, and Budget Narrative in one file or as separate, individually submitted files. Submissions should address four specific criteria (Quality of Program, Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives, Multiplier Effect/Sustainability, and Institution?s Record and Capacity). Details about these criteria are described in the Review Process section below.
5) Budget Narrative (preferably in Microsoft Word) that includes an explanation/justification for each line item in the detailed budget spreadsheet, as well as the source and description of all cost-share offered. For ease of review, it is recommended that applicants order the budget narrative as presented in the detailed budget. Primarily Headquarters- and Field-based personnel costs should include a clarification on the roles and responsibilities of key staff and percentage of time devoted to the project. In addition, cost-effectiveness is one of the key criteria for rating the competitiveness of a program proposal. Applicants that include cost share in their budget should note that cost share is considered a commitment and that the grantee will be held responsible for meeting the amount of cost share included. It is recommended that budget narratives address the overall cost-effectiveness of the proposal, including any cost-share offered (see the PSI for more information on cost-sharing and cost-effectiveness).

6) Detailed Line-item Budget (in Microsoft Excel or similar spreadsheet format) that contains three [3] columns including DRL request, any cost sharing contribution, and total budget. A summary budget should also be included using the OMB approved budget categories (see SF-424 as a sample). See the PSI for more information on budget format. Costs must be in U.S. Dollars.

7) Attachments (not to exceed seven [7] pages total, preferably in Microsoft Word) that include the following in order:
a) Pages 1-2: Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (see PSI for more information on this section).
b) Page 3: Roles and responsibilities of key program personnel with short bios that highlight relevant professional experience. Given the limited space, CVs are not recommended for submission.
c) Page 4: Timeline of the overall proposal. Components should include activities, evaluation efforts, and program closeout.
d) Page 5-7: Additional optional attachments. Attachments may include additional timeline information, letters of support, memorandums of understanding/agreement, etc. For applicants with a large number of letters/MOUs, it may be useful to provide a list of the organizations/government agencies that support the program rather than the actual documentation.

8) If your organization has a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA should be sent as a pdf file. This document will not be reviewed by the panelists, but rather used by program and grant staff if the submission is recommended for funding. Hence, this document does not count against the submission page limitations. If your organization does not have a NICRA agreement with a cognizant agency, the proposal budget should not have a line item for indirect cost charges. Rather, any costs that may be considered as indirect costs should be included in specific budget line items as direct costs. Furthermore, if your proposal involves sub-grants to organizations charging indirect costs, and those organizations also have a NICRA, please submit the applicable NICRA as a pdf file (see the PSI for more information on indirect cost rate).

Note: To ensure all applications receive a balanced evaluation, the DRL Review Committee will review the first page of the requested section up to the page limit and no further. DRL encourages organizations to use the given space effectively.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The bulk of funding activities should take place during a two to three-year time frame. Programs that leverage resources from funds internal to the organization or other sources, such as public-private partnerships, will be highly considered. Programs that have a strong academic or research focus will not be highly considered. Cost sharing is strongly encouraged, and cost sharing contributions should be outlined in the proposal, budget, and budget narrative.

DRL will not consider proposals that reflect any type of support, for any member, affiliate, or representative of a designated terrorist organization, whether or not elected members of government.

The information in this solicitation is binding and may not be modified by any Bureau representative. Explanatory information provided by the Bureau that contradicts this language will not be binding. Issuance of the solicitation does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the Government. The Bureau reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of the program evaluation requirements.

This request for proposals will appear on www.grants.gov, www.grantsolutions.gov, and DRL?s website, www.state.gov/g/drl.

APPLICANT/ORGANIZATION CRITERIA
Organizations submitting proposals must meet the following criteria:

* Be a U.S. non-profit organization meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c) (3) or a comparable organization headquartered internationally, or an international organization.

* Have demonstrated experience administering successful and preferably similar projects. DRL reserves the right to request additional background information on organizations that do not have previous experience administering federal grant awards. These applicants may be subject to limited funding on a pilot basis.

*Be a registered user of www.grants.gov and/or www.grantsolutions.gov .

* Have existing, or the capacity to develop, active partnerships with in-country entities and relevant stakeholders including industry and non-governmental organizations.

* Organizations may form consortia and submit a combined proposal. However, one organization should be designated as the lead applicant.

* An OMB policy directive published in the Federal Register on Friday, June 27, 2003, requires that all organizations applying for Federal grants or cooperative agreements must provide a Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number when applying for all Federal grants or cooperative agreements in or after October 1, 2003. Please reference: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/fedreg/062703_grant_identifier.pdf for the complete OMB policy directive.

REVIEW PROCESS
The Bureau will review all proposals for eligibility. Eligible proposals will be subject to compliance of Federal and Bureau regulations and guidelines and may also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by other Department elements. Final signatory authority for assistance awards resides with the Department?s Grants Officer. DRL and the Grants Office reserve the right to request any additional programmatic and/or financial information regarding the proposal.

Proposals will be funded based on an evaluation of how the proposal meets the solicitation review criteria, U.S. foreign policy objectives, and the priority needs of DRL. A Department of State Review Committee will evaluate proposals submitted under this request. Each proposal will be rated along six criteria. Review criteria will include:

1) Quality of Program Idea
Proposals should be responsive to the solicitation and should exhibit originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau’s mission of promoting human rights and democracy.

2) Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives
A strong proposal will include a clear articulation of how the proposed program activities contribute to the overall program objectives, and each activity will be clearly developed and detailed. A relevant work plan should demonstrate substantive undertakings and the logistical capacity of the organization. The work plan should adhere to the program overview and guidelines described above. Objectives should be ambitious, yet measurable and achievable. For complete proposals, applicants should provide a monthly timeline of project activities. Proposals should address how the program will engage relevant stakeholders and should identify local partners as appropriate. If local partners have been identified, the Bureau strongly encourages applicants to submit letters of support from proposed in-country partners. Organizations also should identify and address gender considerations in all proposed program activities, and must provide specific means, measures, and corresponding targets to address them. As appropriate, organizations should also explain how the program plan addresses the participation and needs of people with disabilities. Additionally, applicants should describe the division of labor among the direct applicant and any local partners. If applicable, proposals should identify target areas for activities, target participant groups or selection criteria for participants, and purpose/criteria for sub-grantees, among other pertinent details. In particularly challenging operating environments, proposals should include contingency plans for overcoming potential difficulties in executing the original work plan.

3) Multiplier Effect/Sustainability
Proposals should clearly delineate how elements of their program will have a multiplier effect and be sustainable beyond the life of the grant. A good multiplier effect may include but is not limited to, plans to build lasting networks for direct and indirect beneficiaries, follow-on training and mentoring, and continued use of project deliverables. A strong sustainability plan may include demonstrating capacity-building results or garnering other donor support after DRL funding ceases.

4) Program Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan
Programs should demonstrate the capacity for engaging in outcome-based evaluations and identify outputs and outcomes to measure how